Chapter 7 - Let me take care of you
Thank you everyone for your continued support! I hope you will enjoy this exciting chapter! *fingers and toes crossed*
While Evfra thoroughly satiated himself, Sara was led back to Moshae's office where she found Akksul patiently waiting.
At the Pathfinder's appearance, a look of confusion bloomed upon the angaran's face. An expression only emphasized by his intricate orange facial markings. The design reminded Sara of the curved ohm symbol, embolding Akksul's brow ridges while tears of rustic orange trailed down his cheeks.
"Moshae, what is this all about?" Akksul gruffly protested as he crossed his arms. He kept his stern gaze locked on his mentor; avoiding the human that now stood next to him.
Sjefa reached her desk first before turning around to gaze warmly at the pair. "Avela has made a remarkable discovery with the artifacts you found, Sara." The young woman beamed, while Akksul released a huff through his snubbed nose. "And thanks to some of Akksul's old preliminary studies of the area around Aya's vault..." Now it was the male angaran's turn to look quite smug, as Sara pursed her lips together... "We have triangulated an area within the jungle around Aya's vault, where we believe a pre-scourge site lies hidden."
"Just send me the coordinates and I have my team find it for you in a heartbeat," Sara remarked as she crossed her arms, sneaking a side-eyed smirk at the ex-Roekaar leader.
"Send a group of aliens around Aya's vault?!" Akksul criticized loudly. "Let alone letting them go trampling over possible sacred angaran grounds?" Akksul shook his head in disgust. What was his mentor thinking?
"Actually," Moshae remarked calmly as she continued. "I think the both of you could work together to uncover the site. Think of it as a bonding exercise." The matriarch proposed pleasantly.
"I'd rather walk through Kadara's sulphur springs," Sara grumbled under her breath, earning a glare from the other angaran.
"Moshae," Akksul began in his most honeyed baritone voice. "With all due respect, I can locate this site myself, there is no need to encumber the Pathfinder with more assignments. She has been so busy, that she hardly has time to look where she is...going."
Sara was already rolling her eyes at Akksul's 'with all due respect'. But his last statement made the young woman's lips press into a pencil thin line. 'Ohhhhh...it's on…'
But before Ryder could add her thoughts on how dense Akksul was, the matriarch lifted a brow ridge at angaran's remark. "I thought you were aware of how instrumental Sara has been in uncovering angaran artifacts and her prowess with the Remnant technology? Certainly both of you would benefit greatly from learning from each other."
"But, Moshae…" "Moshae please…" Both Sara and Akksul began to protest more feverently.
However the matriarch raised a solemn hand that immediately zipped their mouths shut. "It would warm my heart greatly to see you two work together towards our dream of uncovering the lost history before the Kett invaded," Sjefa stated with such motherly wistfulness that it made the other two feel quite guilty.
"Very well, I will do this for you Moshae," Akksul acquiesced with a heavy sigh.
Sara cleared her throat before crisply stating, "I'll do my best Moshae." Then she turned to Akksul, "I'll see you in the morning at 0900," and with a nod the young woman departed the office. She had a feeling that one of them may end up with more than a broken nose by the end of the day.
As Sara headed back to the Tempest, she wondered if this was a big enough mission that required her to bring a couple of squadmates. They were enjoying some well deserved shore leave after being hurried non-stop across the cluster. Plus Aya doesn't have a Kett problem and Sara had been to the vault previously with Moshae. The jungle was relatively calm, so really the young woman would only have to worry about a few of the aggressive wildlife, like Akksul...
The next morning was relatively calm for Evfra as he made his way towards the Resistance Headquarters. However, there was someone new in his spot. A male angaran with navy blue to indigo gradient skin, and star white speckles. He wore a juniper green and obsidian civilian suit, with a silky slate grey rofjin. He no longer sported the orange red Roekaar tactical armor; and Evfra recalled the report that notified him that the angaran had abandoned the Roekaar quite some time ago, thanks to Ryder.
The leader's heavy footsteps caused the visitor to turn his gaze, revealing an intricate facial design of dark purple ink. It was a rare mark, noting his being as one of reincarnation; and not just to any past angaran, but to the ancient champion Zorai, hero of the pre-Scourge era.
"And what are you doing here, Taavos?" Evfra inquired in his low gruff voice.
"Avela has some more Zorai relics for me to evaluate," Taavos explained in his deep rumbling voice, as he tore his gaze away from the peaceful sight the window offered. The two appraised one another silently, each sharing a neutral feeling for the other.
Suddenly they heard Ryder's amused chortle echo from behind the corner. The young woman's musical laughter almost made the resistance leader purr, had the younger angaran not been present.
"Oh, is the Pathfinder here?" Taavos perked up, his tone hopeful.
"Obviously," Evfra snorted at the inane question, though he eyed how the younger angaran was smoothing out the wrinkles in his rofjin, as if making himself presentable...to Ryder? Evfra scowled at the idea.
The young woman walked out of the hallway with a very happy Avela striding alongside. "Oh Taavos excellent!" the curator remarked cheerfully. "Wonderful timing, come, I must show you all the relics Sara has procured!"
"Yes, but," Taavos began as he caught Sara's questioning gaze. "I just wanted to talk to the Pathfinder for a moment…"
But Avela cut him off with a shake of her head, "Pathfinder is busy, or will be very busy shortly, you can talk to her later. Come now, Zorai's artifacts await!" Taavos could only wave a farewell to the young woman as Avela practically dragged him away.
Meanwhile Evfra was perplexed as to why Ryder was in full armor, with both her pistol and assault rifle strapped to her back. "And why are you dressed for battle?" The question rumbled from the leader, pulling the young woman's gaze onto him.
Sara opened her mouth, but before she could respond another voice spoke out.
"Are you ready?" Akksul's voice asked roughly before the angaran appeared. The ex-Roekaar had finally shed his old orange tactical suit for a standard resistance pine green and ivory battle armor.
Evfra looked from Ryder to Akksul, then back to Ryder. His brow ridges furrowing closer together with each glance.
"We're going on a hunt nearby Aya's vault to look for a pre-Scourge site," Sara informed the resistance leader. Though based on his morphing expression, this news was not pleasing him one bit.
"Just the two of you?" Evfra inquired with a note of disapproval. "Where's Jaal? What about your other squadmates?" The leader questioned as he crossed his arms, not liking what was developing before him.
"They've earned some down time," Sara simply responded, mirroring the resistance leader's posture as she crossed her own arms and appraised him back with a slight playful, yet challenging, smile dancing upon her lips.
Akksul quietly watched the pair as his eyes bounced from one to the other. Some sort of powerplay was unfolding and the ex-Roekaar found it...intriguing.
Meanwhile, Evfra's frown deepened as he knew what Ryder was playing at as she mimicked his body language; however he was the resistance leader here. The older angaran turned his attention to the pile of datapads on the desk. Letting silence fill the room as Evfra picked one up, glossed over it -without actually reading it- before he simply declared, "I forbid it."
"You forbid it?" Sara echoed, her eyebrows racing up her forehead.
"Yes," the leader didn't need to look up from his datapad, for Evfra could feel Ryder's gaze bore into him like lasers.
"Well, I don't need your permission," Sara remarked sweetly causing both angarans to gaze back at her. "Moshae has already approved it. And, Parran is providing transport."
'Checkmate!' Now Sara couldn't hold back the grin as she relished Evfra's surprised expression. At first it nearly drove her crazy as the angaran leader criticized, roadblocked, and questioned her every move. But, his experience and tactical mind was something Sara lacked; and through his inadvertent mentorship, began to gain. Now the young woman reveled in these little games of theirs, especially when it produced such rare expressions upon the veteran's face.
"Looks like she's circumvented your authority dear resistance leader," Akksul remarked with a humored note in his deep voice.
Evfra flung a withering glare over at the ex-Roekaar. "Right," Akksul remarked uncomfortably. "I'll go get the shuttle ready. Don't take too long Pathfinder," the younger angaran grumbled as he walked away.
The leader huffed at the ex-Roekaar's retreating back for he had been correct, Ryder even had the appropriate transport requisitions in place so Evfra couldn't stop her. When did she become so adept at outmaneuvering him? "Fine go, but if Akksul tries to kill you, be prepared to strike first," the older angaran grunted as he shifted his gaze back to the datapad.
"Didn't you tell Jaal exactly that about me when he came aboard the Tempest?" Sara smiled as she continued to gaze at the leader. 'It felt like only yesterday...'
"Did I?" Evfra hummed as he feigned not remembering. Though the corners of his lips slightly curled upwards.
A loud dubious snort emitted from the young woman as she wrinkled her nose up at him. Evfra finally looked away from the datapad to appraise Ryder. There was a rare note of warm fondness in his molten blue eyes; she was young, bright, and trusting...far too trusting.
Sara's smile faded from her lips as she stared back up the resistance leader. She had seen quite a few emotions play upon that war worn face of his. Anger, shock, boredom, absolute focus, to glimpses of contentment and a rare smile...but this...this was new and unknown to her.
"Just…" Evfra began as his molten blue eyes searched hers. He wanted to say, be careful, but he couldn't get those words past his constricting throat. "Just...don't do anything stupid," rolled out of his mouth instead.
'Oh, well, of course he would say that...' Sara had no idea why she even thought it could've been something else...
"Aye aye, Evfra," Sara flashed the angaran a lopsided smile before turning to walk away.
Evfra watched her retreating form with a heavy sigh. He wouldn't be able to have peace of mind until she returned...
Akksul piloted the small shuttle as Ryder remained silent in the seat besides him. The young angaran snuck side glances at her from time to time, noting that her attention was upon Aya's tropical scenery.
The ex-Roekaar leader was quite surprised with how the young woman handled Evfra. He had never seen any angaran challenge the resistance leader other than himself. Yet here was this little human who did exactly that. And it was quite refreshing...
"There's Aya's vault, so we should probably land here and start our search," Akksul remarked as he began their smooth descent.
Aya's temperate floral scented breeze surrounded the pair as they carefully trekked through the old overgrown jungle. It was the opposite of Havarl's twilight forest; here on Aya everything was bathed in the warm glow of the golden sun. A couple of times Sara nearly forgot the mission as she just stood still taking in the magical scenery of the vibrant alien forest. 'If only I could find a golden world like this for us…' she sighed deeply before bringing up her omni tool to scan the ground again.
["Sara, I believe this is the site in question," SAM piped up.]
"Akksul, over here!" The young woman called the angaran over. The site was covered in so much vegetation, that it was understandable as to why it had gone unnoticed, especially while Aya was unstable.
Paying more attention, Sara began to notice that a large circular platform of shimmering ebony stone had sunken into the ground over many years. "Wow, look at this!" The young woman gasped as she swept off years of fertile soil from the glossy stone.
Excitement rushed through her. It was like discovering an old Prothean site, and Sara reveled in the thrill of what they had stumbled upon. It reminded the young woman of the circular ancient Mayan calendars chiseled into the stone. Though this was just a small section of a sunken platform.
Akksul was now kneeling beside her, eagerly sweeping off another section of dirt before he paused, "The text is a more ancient form of Shelesh," he eagerly remarked. Sara could feel the angaran's bioelectric field thrum with excitement.
Sara had never seen Akksul look so completely lost in the moment. Granted the times she had seen the angaran had been either pointing her assault rifle at him or looking up at his face in fury when her nose was broken. It was odd to see this side of him, the scholarly Akksul. But it was pleasant too; knowing that there was more to Akksul than just the Roekaar leader who hated all aliens. It meant that they could find common ground. Maybe Moshae's wish was possible...
"Gestiir, that means 'tranquil stone plane'...and that right there is 'jave jarevaon' or 'our galaxy.'" Akksul pointed out words here and there with his gloved hands. "Ah, that is 'voneraan' or 'astronomer' and the last part… 'inalaara' or how it is known to us, 'the honor of knowing one's course in life'." At this the angaran fell silent. He thought he had attained inalaara with the Roekaar, however now with Ryder besides him as they discovered this historic site, Akksul was not so sure...
"What do you think this all means?" Sara asked gently after giving Akksul some time of silence to reflect in. She had felt the angaran's bioelectric field fall quiet as he became lost in thought.
"The stars play a very important role in the angaran culture. We believe our fate is tied to the celestial bodies and through it, we all have a greater purpose," Akksul explained as he rose to his feet and brushed off the dirt from his gloves. "I think this site may have been used by the ancient sages, to help others find their purpose, to find their inalaara ."
"Wow," Sara breathed as she began to realize the significance of this site. "I've uploaded the navigation points. Avela will be able to send a group directly here now and...huh." The young woman had risen to her feet and was searching the other side of the platform when the pair came upon a small makeshift campsite.
"Wait, this campsite is fresh…vacated in haste...but why?" Sara remarked with a furrowed brow.
"We should go," Akksul growled suddenly. Something was wrong here and his instincts were nearly screaming at him to go...flee!
There was a sudden sound of brush being trampled underfoot as a twig snapped. Sara whipped around, her hand already reaching back for her pistol, when she felt it; pain beyond comprehension as each muscle fiber in her entire body convulsed from a sudden jolt of white hot electricity. No sound left her mouth as her jaw clenched painfully shut.
Electricity sent by an angaran who then stepped out into the clearing. No longer charading in civilian clothing, the tall lanky angaran now proudly wore his orange red tactical suit.
Akksul watched in shock as Sara's suddenly keeled over and began to writhe in what was undoubtedly agony. Akksul could feel the bioelectric field come closer as he whipped around to warily watch as the Roekaar removed his helmet, revealing the pale blue skin and icy galaxy eyes of...
"Goshra?" Akksul breathed as he recognized his fellow Roekaar. Then two more Roekaar stepped forward into the clearing of the camp. A female angaran with mossy green skin marked with a dozen small scars and another male of ashen grey skin with charcoal speckles. His steel grey eyes narrowed upon the ex-Roekaar leader.
"Izama, Xolos," Akksul warily acknowledged the female angaran before the other male.
Sara caught the group's attention again as she gasped for breath, grimacing as her muscles finally relaxed.
Goshra walked up to Akksul and handed the angaran a Firaan, "Here you are my leader, take back your honor that this alien had stolen."
Akksul's eyes widened as he looked at the three Roekaar and then down at the young panting woman. Their eyes connected in the sudden silence.
Sara was forced to watch in horror as Akksul grasped the Firaan and took a step away from Goshra. She was too weak still to move anything that would allow her to fight back. 'Shit shit shit! SAM? SAM!' Sara tried over and over. But the AI had gone quiet, the sudden electric surge may have damaged her implant. Ohhhh this was bad...
Then Akksul's hand gripping the Firaan, fell to his side as he stared down at Sara's wide bright eyes. "I cannot Goshra, because we must work with the Milky Way aliens if we are to get rid of the Kett. With their help, we can retake our homeworlds. We can win." As Akksul continued to talk, his heart swelled with emotion and his voice grew stronger as it rang with truth. This was the true path. This was Akksul's inalaara, the angaran could feel it in his blood.
Izama looked absolutely disgusted at her once revered leader. She couldn't believe he, of all people, would say such things...
"I told you Goshra!" Xolos's voice boomed with biting acid. "He is lost to us!"
"Then I will finish her myself!" Goshra spat with rage.
But Sara was finally ready as her barrier encased her form in a blue shimmering protective shield, rebuffing the angaran's attempt to stun her again.
"Goshra! Stop this!" Akksul demanded, but they would no longer heed his commands. The Roekaar no longer answered to Akksul.
Sara leapt back with another surge of her biotics before she reached again for her pistol. Then Akksul shouted at her, "Do not kill them!" They exchanged quick looks before Akksul added, "Please!"
The young woman gritted her teeth as she dodged zipping shots from Izama's assault rifle. Sara not only had to keep her barrier max to shield herself from Goshra's continued electric jolts, but now had to be careful to tone down her own biotic attacks so that they were non-lethal. This took a greater amount of finesse and precision than just blowing things up wily nily.
Meanwhile Akksul grappled with Xolos, each armed with a Firaan now. "You betrayed us!" Xolos spat with fury as he sliced his Firaan horizontally through the air, far too close to Akksul's neck.
Finally Sara landed a biotic fueled punch into Gorsha's belly, knocking the wind out of the angaran before throwing him off into the trunk of what looked like a sturdy coconut-like tree. The young woman dodged and rolled in order to avoid another hail of bullets, before she summoned a singularity to suck Izama up into the air. Focusing her breathing, Sara carefully aimed a dampened throw, just enough to execute a smaller explosion and render the female angaran unconscious.
Gasping now, Sara quickly turned to see if Akksul needed any help, but the angaran lifted up a disarmed Xolos, before hurtling him back down onto the ground. The young woman instantly recognized the move as the exact one Evfra had used on Ovark in the challenge from yesterday.
Panting himself, Akksul straightened up and scanned the area. All three Roekaar had been neutralized, but they were still alive, Akksul could feel their faint bioelectric fields. She could have easily fought back with her guns, yet the young woman had not. The angaran turned around too see that Ryder was watching him, her chest heaving. "Thank you...for not," Akksul began mumbling.
"I truly want us to stop fighting each other Akksul, we are on the same side, we're fighting the Kett," Sara stated in between deep breaths as she shifted her weight between her legs. "And thanks for not, you know...skewering me with that Firaan."
"As you said, we are on the same side," Akksul echoed the young woman's words as tucked away the Firaan into a holster on his belt. Looking back up, Akksul paused as he caught the Pathfinder smiling up at him. He had never seen her smile before and it was...nice.
"Let's head back," Sara breathlessly remarked with a nod up at the angaran.
"Uh, yes, come," Akksul replied as he cleared his throat, and suddenly strode off causing Ryder to be slightly taken aback a bit before hurrying up after his long strides.
They walked quietly besides each other. SAM was still not responding...and Sara began to notice something else. She was still breathing quite raggedly and now beginning to sweat...quite profusely. 'Jeeze, I didn't fight that hard did I?' Then she noticed her armored hands were shaking slightly. Post-fight adrenaline rush? Speaking of adrenaline...her heart was still racing.
"Uh, ahem, Pathfinder?" Akksul inquired as the young woman's body suddenly pressed into the angaran's side. Now she was practically leaning into him with her weight. Akksul was utterly flabbergasted as to what the human's intention was. Wait was she...trying to initiate contact? Surely not, but if so, this was quite a bold move!
"I feeeel wooozy," Sara's voice slurred as her head began to feel quite light...airy even...like a drifting balloon.
"Pathfinder?!" Akksul was now alarmed as he caught Ryder's slipping form before she landed on the ground.
"Sara?!" The ex-Roekaar panicked, dropping all pretense for formal titles as he just hoped to wake the young woman up. She was breathing quite quickly and had a weak bioelectric field of her own. But her eyes lulled closed and she was not longer responsive. The angaran had no clue about human physiology, but he was sure as the stars shone above that this was not good! Quickly Akksul gathered her up in his arms and ran the rest of the way.
Opening the shuttle door with one hand, Akksul carefully settled the Pathfinder on the back seat where she could lay out. And all she did was lay there panting. "Hold on!" The ex-Roekaar pleaded to his unconscious passenger as he got the craft up into the air and sped off, razing the tops of a few trees in his haste.
'They should be back by now,' the resistance leader pondered to himself as he paced around the docks, pausing every other moment to scan the empty skies. Sohkaa, the moss speckled trader, was starting to become very anxious each time Evfra passed by, mumbling something under his breath. "Finally!" The older angaran loudly declared, making the trader jump in surprise.
Evfra watched the incoming cruiser. It was going a tad fast for docking regulations and a bit wobbly. Was Ryder piloting it? The resistance leader quickly walked over to the docking shuttle, waiting for the Pathfinder to exit. What he hadn't expected was for Ryder to exit the shuttle in the arms of Akksul.
One quick look over the young woman had the older angaran thrumming with worry. It didn't help that the ex-Roekaar leader wore a guilty expression once he realized it was Evfra before him.
"What did you do to her?!" Evfra snapped with accusation as he edged closer to the pair.
"I did nothing to her!" Akksul barked back as he instinctively held the young woman closer to him.
"Then what happened?" Evfra demanded, looking absolutely livid now.
"We were attacked by...by Roekaar," Akksul finished and cringed at the last word.
"Did you plan this?" Evfra interrogated, carefully watching the younger anagaran's facial expressions and sensing any changes in his bioelectric field.
"No!" Akksul retorted and the resistance leader didn't see nor feel any hint of lies within the ex-Roekaar. But Evfra's eyes caught the gleam of the Firaan's hilt. He knew Akksul did not have that weapon prior to setting off.
The leader released a low dangerous growl that made his lips quiver, revealing his teeth in anger. "Give her to me," Evfra demanded as he extended his arms.
Akksul looked from the resistance leader down to the little human cradled in his arms. It had been his fault that she was in this state now.
"Now Akksul!" Evfra commanded forcefully.
Quietly, the ex-Roekaar leader gently handed the young woman over and could only watch on as the older angaran quickly carried the Pathfinder over to the Tempest. Knowing he would be denied access to the ship, Akksul could only hope that Ryder would be alright.
Dr. T'Perro was well known for maintaining enviable poise during emergencies. However, Lexi's patience was currently being tested to the limits, and that was saying something after spending months with the rowdy ragtag Tempest crew. Yet, the asari physician had not had the absolute pleasure of dealing with the pestering presence of the angaran resistance leader, until now.
Evfra was hovering about the med bay, grilling Dr. T'Perro with questions: 'What are you doing, What is that for, Sara's blood is red? Wait, why are you taking her blood? Will Sara be alright?'
Lexi was going to tranquilize the angaran if he continued. "Jaal please contain your superior officer, or I will be forced to use my stasis as he is interfering with my ability to provide care for Ryder," the asari stated in her crisp british accented voice.
"Ah, yes, of course," Jaal's deep voice rumbled as he wrung his gloved hands anxiously. The angaran had been feeling worried himself, but had the good sense to stay on the side lines. "Evfra," Jaal began in his soothing voice. He noticed the leader stiffen at his name and the older angaran's bioelectric field buzzed with warning at Jaal's approach. "Please, allow the good doctor to do her work for Ryder's sake," Jaal gently coaxed his dear friend. This seemed to do the trick as Jaal felt Evfra's vibrating field simmer down.
"Fine!" the leader snapped before he stormed out of the med bay. Now Evfra took to pacing up and down the hallway just outside. And while the angaran couldn't hear what the asari physician and Jaal discussed, he could at least keep an eye on Ryder.
"Goddess," Lexi breathed in relief once the door to the medbay whooshed shut. "Jaal, why is your Resistance leader acting in such a brash manner over Ryder?"
Jaal could practically feel his friend's molten blue eyes bore holes into his back. "Well," the angaran began cautiously. "Evfra is acting like one would over a wounded mate."
Lexi nearly dropped the syringe at Jaal's statement...
Finally Jaal beckoned Evfra back into the Med Bay. "How is she?" The angaran asked as he quickly made his way back to Ryder's side. The young woman now laid unarmored, clothed in simple black pants and tank top that hugged her form. She seemed to be peacefully resting upon the medical bed, no longer gasping for breath.
"She has been stabilized and will make a full recovery," Lexi assured the resistance leader. The doctor could see the angaran visibly relax as he sighed in relief. It was most interesting to observe this based on what Jaal had revealed. She will have to have some words with Ryder once she recovers.
Evfra then remembered something. "And where was her AI during all this? Why was it not able to help her?"
["I can explain, General de Tershaav," SAM's polished AI voice suddenly piped up.]
Evfra's body flinched at the talking disembodied voice that echoed in the med bay. Meanwhile both Lexi and Jaal went on as usual for they were now used to SAM's spontaneous presence.
["A Roekaar's electric attack caused the implant to short circuit, essentially blocking me from connecting to Ryder. I would have informed you of this occurrence, however I followed Ryder's advice of 'feeling out the room' and decided it was best to maintain silence while Dr. T'Perro worked. Now that Ryder's metabolism is returning to baseline, it will be safe for me to reconnect with her."]
Evfra huffed through his flared snubbed nose. The angaran still didn't like the idea that Ryder had an AI plugged into her mind in the first place. But at least SAM wasn't the homicidal AI from Voeld. Or at least not yet… "Ryder's metabolism is returning to baseline? What does that mean?" Evfra continued to ask so that he could fully understand what had happened to his...to Ryder.
It was now Lexi's turn to explain. "Ryder suffered from hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar in the body. Biotic users have a high metabolic demand, especially when out in the field using their biotics. Ryder must have gone through her reserves and was feeling the manifestations of hypoglycemia. I imagine, as Ryder has been so busy lately, that she has been skipping lunch again. Not to mention that we have recently worked non-stop."
"And her emotional state, with her brother," Jaal added as he shared a significant look with the asari, which made Evfra feel guilty. He knew that during the week of radio silence Ryder must have been extremely busy. Yet...he had been selfish, only thinking about himself and not what she may have been going through. He needed to work on that...
"We should get Ryder to her bed, she can rest more comfortably there," Lexi stated, shaking the leader out of his thoughts.
"I can do it," Evfra gruffly stated, causing both the asari and Jaal to stare over at him in surprise. "Please allow me to, for Sara took care of me, and it's the least I can do to help her…" The angaran quietly added as his eyes fell back down to gaze upon the young woman's sleeping form.
Again Lexi and Jaal exchanged silent glances. "I'll lead the way," Jaal kindly offered, to which Evfra solemnly nodded. Carefully he lifted Ryder off of the medical bed and cradled her gently in his arms. Now that his own adrenaline and worry had abated, the older angaran took in the warmth of the young woman's body as his bioelectric field hummed in tune with her weak one.
And as Evfra walked forward, he smelled it; the soft floral scent that was undeniably the lotion he made for her. The angaran hugged Ryder's form just a little closer to him as his heart lurched within his chest.
Jaal led the pair towards the captain's quarters and waited on the outside of the door as Evfra entered. The angaran took in the spacious interior of the cabin, noting its cleanliness and tasteful decorations. He continued towards the bed where he gently laid Ryder down.
As Evfra straightened up, he spotted a glossy photo upon the nightstand. Curious, the angaran picked up the photo to examine it closer. It appeared to be an old family photo; Ryder must have been a mere child based on how small she was. The child's hair was parted into two ponytails that stuck out on either side of her head, an unusual style he had never seen current Ryder wear. Evfra also noticed that there was a gap in her smile where a tooth had fallen out. She looked spirited, mischievous, and utterly happy.
What appeared to be a young human boy of nearly the same height stood besides her and bore a remarkable similarity. 'Scott,' Evfra recalled, was the name of Ryder's brother. Scott bore the same tooth gaping smile as his sister, and they wrapped an arm around each other as they squished their chubby cheeks into one another. What was the human phrase he heard Jaal use, 'stuck at the hip'.
Behind the playful pair were two adult humans, one male and the other female. Ryder's mother smiled kindly and Evfra was suddenly struck by how similar her aura was to his own mother. She seemed to radiate warmth from the static photo and bore a knowing smile that was almost aimed at the angaran.
Ryder's father was the complete opposite. Evfra inspected the stern man and noted the human's calculative look. But the father seemed to soften for the photo as there was a small smile ghosting his lips, contrasting the harsh frown lines surrounding them. The noise of shifting blankets alerted Evfra as Ryder began to stir awake.
Sara's eyes fluttered open to focus up at the figure looming next to her...bed? The young woman blinked several more times before she made out the shape of an angaran, then the specific angaran to her surprise. "Evfra?" Sara croaked, then groaned as her head throbbed. "What happened? The last thing I remember was Akksul helping me walk back to the shuttle. Gods, I felt so weird and I couldn't reach SAM."
"Everything is fine," Evfra replied in a low soothing murmur that had Sara already feeling at ease. "Dr. T'Perro said you had a hypoglycemic event," the angaran informed her. He then filled the Pathfinder in on what else had happened, omitting a few things here and there like shouting at Akksul and demanding that he hand Ryder over to him. Oh, and getting kicked out of the Med Bay by the asari, Ryder didn't need to know that either…
Sara closed her eyes briefly as she rubbed her aching temples. Then with a heavy sigh, the young woman propped herself up with her elbows.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Evfra grumbled questioningly as he crossed his arms and stared Ryder down.
"I've got work to do. You know how it is," Sara stated in a painfully obvious tone as she waved her hand about with no clear reason. "Now where's my omnitool?" She asked, more to herself as she peered about her cabin.
"I think not, Dr. T'Perro stated you need to rest, and that is exactly what you'll do," Evfra declared as his brow ridges frowned.
"We both know that's not happening," Sara scoffed as she flung her legs over the side of the bed only to find that Evfra had moved himself directly in front of her to prevent her from getting up.
"Look Evfra, I don't need a babysitter," Sara warned as she eyed the angaran warily. The young woman did not need the resistance leader to see her in such a weakened state. It was embarrassing enough that he had been present while she had blacked out.
"You bossed me around when I was sick," Evfra grumpily reminded her.
"Yes, sick," Sara pointed her index finger up at the angaran. "I just…"
"Pushed yourself too hard that your body went into a crisis?" Evfra finished for her, with a hint of smugness in his gruff voice.
And it did not go unnoticed as the young woman narrowed her eyes up at the angaran. "I have alot to do, I can walk this off now; so Evfra, shoo!" Sara flailed her hands forward as if to fan a flame. But apparently all that movement was a bit too much for her weakened state as pain shot through her brain. Sara hissed as she grimaced.
"See, you need to rest!" Evfra pointed out with exasperation as the young woman scrunched up her face at him.
But he was on her ship, dammit, Sara was the boss here. "Don't you have work to do?!" She demanded, causing the angaran to growl.
"Sara!" Evfra began, finally throwing caution to the wind as he had had enough! "Will you just let me take care of you!" The angaran finally snapped.
'Whaaaat?' Sara thought with eyes wide. She felt a little dumbstruck at Evfra's sudden declaration. "Fine," the young woman peeped, as her dull brain worked on understanding what had just happened.
"Good," the angaran huffed as his crossed arms fell to his sides. "Stubborn woman," Evfra grumbled peevishly as he lowered himself down so that he was kneeling in front of Ryder.
Now Sara's brain went into overdrive as she watched the looming angaran kneel before her. Having the resistance leader down on his knees in front of her... oh dear … What kind of 'taking care of you' did he mean?
She became stalk still as she watched Evfra carefully remove his gloves then slowly reach out to her as he placed his warm, slightly roughened hands, upon her temples. "Soooooo what are you doing?" Sara whispered, not daring to use her regular voice as it might crackle from the dryness in her throat. She was now looking down into his molten blue eyes and under his intense gaze, felt her cheeks flush with heat.
"Trying to make you relax," Evfra informed her in a deep low rumble.
A loud snort escaped the young woman as she salaciously thought, 'Sir, you are sending me in the opposite direction!'
'She will be the death of me,' Evfra could feel it in his bones.
The angaran then stared into Ryder's wide bright eyes, nearly losing himself within them before he caught himself. It was difficult enough not to marvel at the young woman's warm smooth skin underneath his naked fingers. Gulping, the angaran reminded himself of the task at hand and he closed his eyes to focus on channelling subdued waves of energy through his fingertips and into Ryder's warm soft skin.
And boy did Sara feel it. It was like her form had become encapsulated with a whole body massage that started at Evfra's callused fingers then radiated throughout her body, sending it into a pleasantly warm thrumming buzz. "Wow," Sara sighed with a small smile as her eyelids became very heavy, before completely closing as she slipped into a deep sleep.
Evfra felt her body go limp as he quickly supported her head and gently laid her back onto the bed. This time he drew up the soft blankets, tucking her in snugly. Ryder looked so peaceful and delicate, one wouldn't realize what a force of nature she truly was.
The angaran sighed, and he innocently brushed aside her hair from her face, which was a mistake… Not only did Evfra inhale sharply at the surprise of how silky smooth each soft strand was against his bare hands, but his molten blue eyes immediately focused on the young woman's slightly parted lips. Lips plump and delicate, sang to him as if they were his salvation.
Evfra realized that he had bent down to capture those irresistible lips in his...but caught himself.
"I care for you, Sara Ryder," he whispered into her ear, before he left...
[Author notes]
Thoughts, questions, suggestions? Please please leave a comment, even if you feel it's too short!
I'm curious as to how you feel about this story's progression (Sara's and Evfra's developing relationship), especially with Akksul now tossed into the mix. I would love to hear more from you dear readers. Your support is the kindling to which fuels my fiery passion to continue to write!
Side note, I took some liberty with Taavos's facial markings. I actually haven't found information behind the various angaran facial markings. If you have information please let me know!
Translations thanks to Mass Effect Andromeda Wiki:
Gestiir="tranquil stone plane,"
jave jarevaon= "our galaxy", refers to Andromeda
voneraan= "astronomer"
inalaara = the virtue of knowing one's course; or a good name for the brink of the unknown.
